US3993372A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Overhead cigarette rack
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-07-25
•
Granted: 1976-11-23
•
Expires: 1995-07-25
Abstract
Abstract A display and vending device for stackable articles such as cigarette packages or the like is suspended from overhead supports, for example, at the check-out counter of a retail store. The articles contained in the device are accessible only to the cashier but are visible to the customer. The device includes a frame having a plurality of vertical dividers which separate the stacks of articles and which enable the articles to be gravity fed. Means are provided for displacing the lowest article in each stack so that it projects from the stack and is easily grasped by the cashier.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Mihos
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 20:57
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47F; A47F1/00; A47F1/04; A47F1/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
262 words
A display and vending device for use with generally rectangular, stackable articles, comprising: a generally rectangular frame having top, bottom and side sections; a transparent panel supported by said frame and defining a back wall; a plurality of vertical dividers carried by the frame, the vertical dividers being spaced horizontally to define, in cooperation with the back wall, a plurality of vertical article-receptive channels; a shelf carried by the bottom section of the frame and extending substantially between the side sections, the shelf defining the bottom of each of said vertical channels, the shelf being of generally V-shaped, concave configuration having a rearward portion which extends forwardly and downwardly and a forward portion which extends forwardly and upwardly, the forwardmost portion of the shelf defining a lip extending forwardly of the dividers, and a plurality of cutout portions formed in the lip, the cutout portions being spaced along the lip there being one cutout portion associated with each of the vertical channels; a horizontally extending bar mounted to the frame on the forwardly facing side thereof and extending from one side section to the other, the horizontal bar being disposed above the forwardly extending lip portion of the shelf and being disposed to engage articles stacked in any of the channels which may protrude forwardly beyond said bar and to urge said articles fully back into said channel as said stack of articles advances downwardly; said V-shaped shelf being constructed so that the lowermost article in a stack thereof will protrude forwardly beyond those of the stacked articles below the horizontal bar.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
262 words
A display and vending device for use with generally rectangular, stackable articles, comprising: a generally rectangular frame having top, bottom and side sections; a transparent panel supported by said frame and defining a back wall; a plurality of vertical dividers carried by the frame, the vertical dividers being spaced horizontally to define, in cooperation with the back wall, a plurality of vertical article-receptive channels; a shelf carried by the bottom section of the frame and extending substantially between the side sections, the shelf defining the bottom of each of said vertical channels, the shelf being of generally V-shaped, concave configuration having a rearward portion which extends forwardly and downwardly and a forward portion which extends forwardly and upwardly, the forwardmost portion of the shelf defining a lip extending forwardly of the dividers, and a plurality of cutout portions formed in the lip, the cutout portions being spaced along the lip there being one cutout portion associated with each of the vertical channels; a horizontally extending bar mounted to the frame on the forwardly facing side thereof and extending from one side section to the other, the horizontal bar being disposed above the forwardly extending lip portion of the shelf and being disposed to engage articles stacked in any of the channels which may protrude forwardly beyond said bar and to urge said articles fully back into said channel as said stack of articles advances downwardly; said V-shaped shelf being constructed so that the lowermost article in a stack thereof will protrude forwardly beyond those of the stacked articles below the horizontal bar.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said horizontal bar includes a flange extending downwardly and rearwardly from the upper edge of said bar.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device as defined in claim 2 wherein said flange on said bar is inclined at an angle of approximately 45° to the horizontal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device as defined in claim 1 wherein the depth of said shelf, as measured from the juncture of the forward and rearward portions thereof to the forward edge of said lip is no more than approximately 100 millimeters.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device as defined in claim 1 wherein the depth of the forward portion of said shelf, as measured from the juncture of the rearward and forward portions of the shelf and the most rearward portion of the cutouts is less than 70 millimeters.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
104 words
A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said shelf further comprises: a length of sheet metal bent to define a plurality of continuous portions including a rear leg portion, said rear shelf portion, said front shelf portion, said lip portion and a front leg portion, said rear leg portions and front leg portions resting on top of the bottom frame section and being dimensioned to support said shelf portions and lip above the bottom frame section, the juncture of said rear leg portion and rear shelf portion being disposed above the level of the forwardmost edge of the lip portion of the shelf.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device as defined in claim 6 wherein said rear shelf portion is inclined to the vertical at an angle of approximately 45° and wherein the forward shelf portion is inclined with respect to said rear shelf portion at an angle of approximately 120°.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
A device as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said vertical dividers further comprises: a flat sheet having a tab protruding at each of its upper and lower ends; the top section of said frame and the shelf each having a plurality of transversely spaced slots formed therein to receive, respectively, the upper and lower tabs of said dividers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
116 words
A device as defined in claim 1 further in combination with a check-out counter and further comprising: said check-out counter being elongate and having a forward, cashier side and a rearward, customer side; said frame being suspended from an overhead support above the check-out counter and at a location which is disposed nearer the forward side of the check-out counter than the rearward side thereby to preclude a person on the rearward side of the check-out counter from reaching the forward side of the display and vending device; said display and vending device being suspended at an elevation in which the bottom section thereof is sufficiently high as to present no obstruction to the cashier's view.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1117148A
Cited
US1435935A
Cited
US1673812A
Cited
US1912344A
Cited
US1999021A
Cited
US2272682A
Cited
US2350487A
Cited
US2723036A
Cited
FR1104110A
Cited
US3393797A
Cited
US3587925A
Cited
US3923159A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-11-23 | 1980-05-24 | 1980-11-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-11-23 | 1984-05-24 | 1984-11-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-11-23 | 1988-05-24 | 1988-11-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |